Applying to Sycamore School

08-09 Class Offerings

Admission Criteria

EC1 – EC3: Children seeking admission should have a large vocabulary, an acute memory, and display alertness and curiosity. Candidates need to exhibit age-appropriate social and emotional development, and behavior that would enable them to function effectively in a classroom environment. Admission is based on the results of screening and observation conducted at Sycamore. To remain in the program after early childhood, students must have shown positive potential in the program and score at or near the very superior range on an individually administered intelligence test prior to the kindergarten year.

Pre-kindergarten through grade eight: Students seeking admission should display very high levels of intelligence and academic achievement, and need a curriculum that is broad in scope and depth of understanding to achieve their potential. Candidates should exhibit age-appropriate social and emotional development, and behavior that enables them to function effectively in a classroom environment. Admission is based on multiple criteria including parent recommendation, teacher recommendation, a full scale IQ score at or near the very superior range on an individually administered intelligence test, and a classroom visit. Older students also need recent report cards that show high achievement, and strong standardized achievement test scores. While Sycamore strives to meet the needs of each child, we recognize that some gifted children will have special needs beyond the scope of the school's mission.

Admission Policies

Nondiscrimination Policy: Sycamore School admits qualified students of any race, color, gender, and national or ethnic origin, and it is impartial in its administrative and educational policies with respect to these characteristics.

Sibling Policy: If a qualified sibling and a non-sibling apply for the same available opening, preference will be given to the sibling applicant, unless extraordinary qualifications of the non-sibling applicant require that the non-sibling be admitted in order to best fulfill the mission of the school.